FX.co ★ Richmond Manufacturing Shipments Stall Again in April, Matching March Lows

U.S. manufacturing activity in the Richmond Federal Reserve district showed no improvement in April, as the Manufacturing Shipments Index remained stuck at -2. The reading, released on 28 April 2026, matches March 2026’s level, signaling a second consecutive month of contraction in shipments across the region’s factories.

The unchanged -2 print indicates that more firms continued to report declining shipments than rising ones, underscoring persistent softness in regional manufacturing demand. While the data do not point to a sharp deterioration, the lack of any rebound from March suggests that conditions remain subdued as the sector navigates a challenging environment in early Q2 2026.